South Dakota State Medical Association Foundation Scholarships
SDSMA Senior Scholarship – Established in 2018 by the SDSMA Foundation Board of Directors. To be awarded to third-year medical students at the USD Sanford School of Medicine. The scholarship shall provide up to the full amount of annual tuition and shall aid in encouraging young physicians to practice in South Dakota upon completion of their residency.
SDSMA Junior Scholarship – Established in 2017 by the SDSMA Foundation Board of Directors. To be awarded to third-year medical students at the USD Sanford School of Medicine. The scholarship shall provide up to the full amount of annual tuition and shall aid in encouraging young physicians to practice in South Dakota upon completion of their residency.
SDSMA Sophomore Scholarship – Established in 2026 by the SDSMA Foundation Board of Directors. To be awarded to second-year medical students at the USD Sanford School of Medicine. The scholarship shall provide up to the full amount of annual tuition and shall aid in encouraging young physicians to practice in South Dakota upon completion of their residency.
SDSMA Freshman Scholarship – Established in 2011 by the SDSMA Foundation Board of Directors. To be awarded to first-year medical students at the USD Sanford School of Medicine. The scholarship shall provide up to the full amount of annual tuition and shall aid in encouraging young physicians to practice in South Dakota upon completion of their residency.
SDSMA Past President’s Scholarship – Established in 2016 by the SDSMA Past Presidents. To be awarded to fourth-year medical students at the USD Sanford School of Medicine who show great leadership ability during premedical and graduate training and have active participation in SDSMA & AMA.
Avera Health Plans Scholarship – Established in 2006 by Avera Health Plans. To be awarded to a first year and a third or fourth-year medical student at the USD Sanford School of Medicine who is SD resident with high scholastic achievement, interest in practicing in SD and in primary care or other area of critical need. Previously the DakotaCare Scholarship.
Black Hills District Medical Society Scholarship – Established in 2014 by the Black Hills District Medical Society. Eligible USD Sanford School of Medicine students must have distinguished themselves through patient and community service and must have an interest in practicing medicine in the west river region of South Dakota.
Herbert A. Saloum, MD Memorial Scholarship – Established in 2019 in memory of Herbert A. Saloum, MD. Eligible USD Sanford School of Medicine students must have an interest in primary care.
Howard & Mary Ann Saylor Scholarship – Established in 1995 in memory of Howard & Mary Ann Saylor. To be awarded to a third or fourth-year medical student at the USD Sanford School of Medicine.
J. Michael McMillin Scholarship – Established in 2008 by J. Michael McMillin, MD. To be awarded to a first-year medical student for all four years of medical school at the USD Sanford School of Medicine. Eligible students must be a South Dakota resident, top ranked in their college class, and maintain ranking in the top 50% of their class for all four years receiving the scholarship. Previously the Excellence Scholarship.
Pierre District Medical Society Scholarship – Established in 2015 by the Pierre District Medical Society. Eligible students must be in good standing with a C average or better with preference to students with financial need at the USD Sanford School of Medicine. Applications must have graduated in one of the 13 counties that make up the Pierre Medical District and have interest in returning to central SD to practice medicine.
Richard Holm Prairie Doc Memorial Scholarship – Established in 2020 in memory of Richard Holm, MD. To be awarded to a fourth-year medical student at the USD Sanford School of Medicine with interest in primary care and enthusiasm for communications.
T.H. Sattler Memorial Scholarship – Established in 1991 by Theodore H. Sattler, MD. To be awarded to a third or fourth-year medical student at the USD Sanford School of Medicine with promise in clinical medicine.
USD SSOM Dean’s Advocacy/Leadership Scholarship – Established in 2026 by USD SSOM Dean Tim Ridgway, MD. To be awarded to third-year medical students at the USD Sanford School of Medicine for two years of medical school. Eligible students must demonstrate a strong propensity for advocacy and leadership in medicine.
Wulbers Memorial Scholarship – Established in 1995. To be awarded to a deserving or promising third or fourth-year medical student at the USD Sanford School of Medicine who has expressed interest to practice in FP, OPH or ENT.
Yankton District Medical Society Scholarship – Established in 2015 by the Yankton District Medical Society. To be awarded to third or fourth-year medical students at the USD Sanford School of Medicine with preference to be given to students with a desire to practice medicine within the counties of Eighth District Medical Society.
Seventh District Medical Society Leadership Scholarship – Established in 2015 by the Seventh District Medical Society. To be awarded to members of the SDSMA & 7th District for tuition, fees, course materials and travel expenses reasonably related to attendance at the Health Leadership Institute program established by the SDSMA.
SDSMA Leadership Scholarship – Established in 2023 by the SDSMA Foundation Board of Directors. To be awarded to members of the SDSMA for tuition, fees, course materials and travel expenses reasonably related to attendance at the Health Leadership Institute program established by the SDSMA.
Awards for the above scholarships are annually determined by the SDSMA Foundation Board of Directors.
For more information regarding the SDSMA Foundation scholarships, archived scholarships, or to endow a scholarship fund, contact Kira Gravatt at kgravatt@sdsma.org.
